Modern Healthcare recognizes Baptist Health board member Richard Sisisky for excellence in governance

Modern Healthcare has named Richard Sisisky an Excellence in Governance honoree for his leadership on the Baptist Health of Northeast Florida board of directors. Sisisky, who has been a member of Baptist Health's system board for 15 years and most recently served as board chair (2017-2022), is one of only 14 honorees in the nation listed in the magazine's inaugural recognition.

In naming the 2022 honorees, Modern Healthcare said, "The unparalleled demands made on health care organizations during the past two years required strong, engaged boards that could navigate new terrain and develop policy that not only dealt with current events but also shaped a healthy future for patients, employees, organizations and their communities."

Local governance is a point of distinction for Baptist Health, the only locally governed, locally owned, non-for-profit health system in Northeast Florida. The system board is comprised of 14 influential community leaders from diverse backgrounds, who volunteer their time, expertise, and perspectives to enhance the impact and vitality of the organization.

"Mr. Sisisky earned this distinguished recognition for his outstanding leadership during a pivotal time in our health system's history, which has included significant partnerships, achievements and milestones," said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer, Baptist Health. "Because Mr. Sisisky and the others on our board live in the community we serve, they are true champions for ensuring we have the right people, culture and strategic focus to meet both the current and future health needs of our region."

Sisisky has been a highly involved member of governance at Baptist Health since 2002. Over the years, he has held several key board roles, including:

• Immediate past chair of the Baptist Health System board (two terms)

• Chair of Investment Committee

• Chair of Finance Committee

• Inaugural member of Social Responsibility Committee

• Member of Leadership and Compensation Committee, which is responsible for succession planning

Sisisky also has played a role in several key partnerships and affiliations designed to improve access to quality health care in our region, including Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was deeply involved in the creation in 2015 of Coastal Community Health, a regional network of locally governed, not-for-profit hospitals in contiguous markets, and served as one of the network's inaugural board members.

From 2014 to 2017, Sisisky chaired Baptist Health's comprehensive fundraising campaign, Securing Tomorrow Together, which focused on enhancing and sustaining significant clinical services and programs to benefit our community. Sisisky helped Baptist Health shatter its $100 million campaign goal by raising $150 million through an innovative matching gifts program designed to build endowment funds.

In addition to his board roles, Sisisky and his wife, Kimberly, have been key drivers in promoting women's health. To help educate providers and community members, the Sisiskys provided an endowment to fund the annual Sisisky-Kleppinger Lecture Series for Women's Health. The inaugural lecture, "Why Gender Matters," featured the chief scientific officer of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health, who addressed how gender differences impact health and wellness. Subsequent lectures have addressed Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (postpartum depression), fertility, heart disease in women and breast cancer.